The original Earl Eagle of 1960 offered American style and value in a compact package. Then, in 1970, with the midsize Earl Jupiter squeezing it from above, the Eagle was reinvented again as a car with the space of a compact in a subcompact wheelbase - real, 5 passenger space unlike the competition. But it was engineered to a price - $1,999 for the base model coupe.

The new Eagle was a sales, if not a reviewer success. Earl dealerships however wanted a more upscale small car to sell, even though the Silverhare Siesta covered that segment. The company obliged, adding a high quality tape player, air conditioning, automatic transmission, console, woodgrain trim, rear center armrest, deep pile carpeting, embroidered vinyl bucket seats, power brakes and steering, manual metal sunroof; and outside, a Maduro grain vinyl roof, color keyed rub strips, color matching wheel covers, whitewall tires, and exclusive badging. All this to make the company’s cheapest, smallest car into a miniature brougham, transforming a penalty box into pleasant place to spend a commute, at a modest upcharge.

And what did they decide to call it? The Earl Eagle POS - standing for Premium Option Selection.

So the name and concept are most inspired by the Ford Maverick LDO, however there are also Nova LN and Valiant Brougham cues thrown in. Dimensionally it is a subcompact, most directly comparable to a Plymouth Cricket. The back seat is ahead of the rear wheels unlike in a Vega or Pinto.